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Kids Collect Cracker Jack!

While there are plenty of reasons to eat Cracker Jack, there are just as many reasons to collect the prizes from Cracker Jack.  On this page, we will explore some ways that kids can collect Cracker Jack. [Back to Contents]
 
 

Collectors Get Prizes Everywhere

New Prizes - The easiest way to get prizes is to buy Cracker Jack. Every package comes with a prize. And in the past several months, Cracker Jack has started showing up everywhere. Collectors all over the country have had an easier time of finding that red, white, and blue package with Sailor Jack and Bingo on the front. A lot of that has to do with the fact the Frito-Lay Company, the same people that make Doritos® and Chee-tos®, make Cracker Jack now. And, of course, people never have a hard time finding Lay's Potato Chips®. Some collectors buy a package of Cracker Jack every time they see one in a discount store, supermarket, or convenience store, so they can collect the latest prizes.

Trading - A great way for Cracker Jack collectors to get prizes they need is to trade extras with friends. After opening several packages of Cracker Jack, you are likely to find some duplicates along the way, so it might be a good idea to find a buddy to trade with. Ask around at school to see if someone else is interested in collecting with you. Collecting Cracker Jack prizes is a great way to make friends.

Shows and Markets - An adult family member might like to go along with you to a toy show or flea market in your area to look for Cracker Jack prizes. Parents or grandparents probably remember eating Cracker Jack when they were your age, so this might be a good time to talk about the prizes they remember. Some older Cracker Jack prizes cost a lot of money, but there are still many prizes that a kid's allowance can handle. If you are interested in collecting prizes that are no longer available in Cracker Jack, it is a good idea to save some money each week. Then, when there is a toy show, you will be able to buy plenty of great prizes.

Friends and Family - Tell your friends, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other people in your family and neighborhood that you collect Cracker Jack prizes. They probably eat Cracker Jack, too, so you can ask them to save their prizes for you. Of course, if you learn that they also collect Cracker Jack prizes, you can still trade with them. Whenever someone gives you the prize from their Cracker Jack, be sure to thank them. People will be happy to continue saving prizes for you if they know you appreciate their efforts.

The Cracker Jack Collectors Association (CJCA) - The CJCA is a club of people who collect Cracker Jack prizes just like you do. Many members of this club will sell their extra prizes by mail. There are collectors of many different kinds of prizes who are willing to help kids learn more about collecting, so it is a good idea to become a member of the club. The CJCA newsletter, The Prize Insider is a great way to keep up on the latest Cracker Jack collecting ideas. [Back to Contents]

Where to Store Prizes

CONDITION -- Most collectors want to make sure that they store their prizes so they always look like new. It is important to make sure that they are clean and dry and don't get scratched or bent. A collector can be very proud of a collection which is kept neat and displayed in a way that will protect the prizes.

DISPLAY -- For years many collectors have used clear plastic 20-pocket coin pages to display the small prizes that once came in packages of Cracker Jack. But the current prizes from Cracker Jack are slightly larger and fit better into plastic nine-pocket baseball card album pages. The baseball pages are usually less expensive and easier to find than the coin pages. You can put several of these pages into a three-ring binder. Paper, cardboard, and thin plastic prizes fit perfectly into pockets of these sheets to keep your collection organized while you can still see both sides of each prize. When you get extras of the same prize, you can put them in pages in the back of your book to trade with friends. Be careful not to damage prizes when putting them in and taking them out of the plastic pockets. Keeping your collection in an album like this will make your collection portable, so it will be easy to show off your collection at any time. [Back to Contents]

There is always time to play

Where to Find More Information

THE LIBRARY -- The library in your school or town might have a book about Cracker Jack prizes. If your local library doesn't have one, then ask your librarian if he or she can get one of the books listed below on loan from another library.

BOOKS -- Here is a list of books that have pictures of all kinds of Cracker Jack prizes, premiums, and packages. Studying pictures of old prizes is a great way to learn what to look for.

Cracker Jack Prizes by Alex Jaramillo; published by Abbeville Press in 1989.

Cracker Jack Collectibles: With Price Guide by Ravi Pina; published by Schiffer Publishing in 1995.

Cracker Jack Toys: The Complete, Unofficial Guide for Collectors by Larry White; published by Schiffer Publishing in 1997.

Cracker Jack: The Unauthorized Guide to Advertising Collectibles by Larry White; published by Schiffer Publishing in 1998.
 
 

OTHER SITES -- You can find other web sites featuring Cracker Jack prizes by going to the CJCA Links Page. Sites on the Internet change all the time, so you might want to check back once in a while to see what's new.

E-MAIL -- You can e-mail the Cracker Jack Collectors Association if you have questions. Experienced collectors are always happy to answer questions from new collectors. We think of ourselves as kids, so the CJCA would like to know if you have any ideas about how we can help other kids learn about collecting Cracker Jack prizes. We'll be glad to hear any suggestions you have. [Back to Contents]

Kids: Contact CJCA!